Fatalities up, injuries down in latest FMCSA safety study

The number of
large-truck fatalities is on the rise, according to new research released by the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

According to FMCSA’s
“Motor Carrier Safety Progress Report,” 5,196 deaths in trucks occurred in
2004. That number is up from 4,986 in 2003, and 4,939 in 2002.

However, the number
of injuries in trucks actually decreased last year, down to 118,000, compared
with 122,000 in 2003.

The report shows
that its numbers are based on preliminary data, and does not indicate whether
more or less than 100 million truck vehicle miles – the number of miles studied
in previous years – were evaluated.

“We’re awaiting for
the Federal Highway Administration to give us the denominator, so to speak,
before we can calculate the fraction,” Bill MacLeod, director of communications
for FMCSA, told Land Line. “We know how many injuries there were –
that’s the numerator – but we need the denominator.”

MacLeod said there
is no exact date on when the final numbers will be available, but he does
expect to receive them soon.